Everyone is envious of me for having someone like Dominic Cruz, who's love-brained, as a husband-to-be. He's rich, handsome, and highly educated.

I smile without saying anything, but I nod happily.

However, on the day I'm misdiagnosed, he goes missing. He's so engrossed in his secret lover that he forgets all about me.

So, I jilt him before he can do it to me. I turn him into the city's laughingstock.

Later, I hear that he drinks the bar dry every night. He scours Marina City but fails to find his missing bride.

"Ms. Baird, this is the fake death service you booked with us. The time of death is set for three days from now, on your wedding day. The body will be delivered to the wedding venue, and you will be the deceased. Please confirm and sign here."

I nodded and signed the end of the document without hesitation.

On the way from the hospital to Dominic Cruz's company, I opened my phone and happened to come across a video interview of Dominic.

"I owe all my success to my wife, Yvonne Baird. She is my greatest support and motivation."

The barrage of comments kept appearing at the bottom of the screen.

"I heard that when Mr. Cruz was 20 years old, he personally designed a blue diamond tiara for Ms. Baird. He said she was his queen."

"When Ms. Baird was 23 years old, she was trapped under rubble after an earthquake. Mr. Cruz refused to believe she was dead and dug through the debris with his bare hands until his fingers were mangled just to save her."

"We all know how important hands are to a designer, yet Mr. Cruz damaged his hand's muscles and nerves, rendering him unable to work on delicate details ever since."

"At 25 years old, Mr. Cruz proposed to Ms. Baird in a global live broadcast and finally brought her home as his wife."

…

Everyone envied our relationship.

I got out of the car and took the CEO's private elevator, but my phone screen suddenly displayed an image of Prestige Entertainment's new spokesperson—Rosa Kerr.

Her innocent and beautiful appearance made it hard to reconcile her with the homewrecker who seduced another woman's husband. The thought of the explicit photos in bed Rosa had sent me made my stomach turn.

Before her brazen provocation, I had never doubted Dominic's love for me. To give me the best life he could, he founded his company and handled everything personally. To secure business deals, he drank with clients until he developed stomach ulcers.

Yet the man who once vowed would love me forever had still cheated.

I wiped away the tears from the corner of my eyes.

Just as I reached for my design portfolio, someone suddenly embraced me from behind.

"Yvonne, didn't we agree to wait until I returned from my business trip to go wedding dress shopping together? Why did you suddenly come to the company?"

He took my hand. "Your hands are so cold, and you're not even wearing a jacket. Your lungs aren't in good shape—how can I possibly not worry about you?"

I looked up at him. His gaze was sincere and ardent. It was precisely because of this that I couldn't understand.

"Why did you hire an amateur as the company's spokesperson?"

Prestige Entertainment was a top global company with countless celebrities under its helm, including A-list international stars and top idols. Yet, they chose an amateur.

Dominic remained unperturbed. "Oh, you mean Rosa? I chose her because she reminds me of you back in college. She fits perfectly with the company's youthful and vibrant culture."

Then, in a teasing tone, he asked, "What's the matter? Are you feeling jealous over me?"

Dominic held me close, burying his face into the crook of my neck. "Yvonne, I'll always have eyes only for you. Everything with anyone else has been completely innocent."

He spoke with such sincerity, a sharp contrast to the bold, glaring marks on his neck.

How ironic and laughable.

I didn't know how to respond to him.

Just then, the assistant knocked on the open door and said respectfully, "Mr. Cruz, the car is ready."

"Got it," Dominic replied. Then, he turned back to me and said, "It'll be our third wedding anniversary soon. How about I put on a grand firework display at Gemini Towers for you?"

East of Marina City, which also happened to be the heart of the city, stood two uniquely designed skyscrapers on some of the most expensive land in the country. From above, they looked like lovers embracing—hence the name, Gemini Towers.

This land was where our family estates once stood before the earthquake reduced them to rubble. It was also where I was buried for 48 hours—my worst nightmare.

To help me heal from the trauma, Dominic sketched design after design, even with his hands still wrapped in bandages. Then, he poured his entire fortune into buying this piece of land.

Gemini Towers stood as a symbol of Dominic's devotion to me and the bond we had shared since childhood. We were the classic story—a couple who grew up together and got married to each other.

Back then, he proposed, and I said yes. But he didn't have any money left to hold a wedding. So he said that every year on our anniversary, he would host a grand wedding at Gemini Towers—making up for the one we never had—to let us receive everyone's blessings.

"We'll walk through this life together, and the next, and the one after that. One day, we'll sit side by side and witness Gemini Towers become a historic landmark and a heritage building."

I felt a sudden tightness in my chest. "Dominic, I want to go up to the rooftop."

"I'll come with you."

"No, it's okay. You're afraid of heights."

As the elevator ascended, I glanced down and saw Dominic pull out his phone. Mine buzzed at the same time, and a screenshot of a chat appeared.

Rosa texted, "Hey honey, I'm so hungry for your carrot right now."

Dominic replied, "Wait for me."

The attached photo showed Rosa in black fishnet bunny lingerie, sitting suggestively on the floor, with a fluffy white tail peeking behind her. Her gaze was seductive as she stared into the camera.

Seconds later, my phone rang.

Dominic's voice was breathless. "Sorry, Yvonne. A big client just came—"

I cut him off, giving him one last chance. "Dominic, do you remember what I said to you the day you proposed to me? If you ever fall for someone else, just tell me. I won't cling to you. But if you lie to me, I'll leave you forever."

Dominic suddenly felt uneasy. Gripping the phone, he hurriedly replied, "Yvonne, I only love you, and I'll never fall for someone else."

In that moment, the last remnants of my love for him vanished. I descended from the rooftop, leaving a signed divorce agreement on the VIP lounge chair.

Dominic Cruz, my first gift to you was freedom.

…

Late into the night, Rosa sent me a new photo every hour. She didn't stop until dawn.

"He took me all night, trying every position. I could barely get out of bed after that. Has he ever done that to you?"

Before I could finish reading, Dominic opened the front door. He saw me packing up my clothes.

Panicked, he asked, "Yvonne, why are you packing? Where are you going?"

"Just reorganizing for the season," I said casually.

Dominic immediately stepped forward and crouched down beside me with a smile. "Yvonne, it was wrong of me to let you go home alone because of the client. Let's go try on the wedding dress today, okay?"

I smiled back at him but hid my hand behind my back. I was clenching it so hard that my nails nearly broke my skin.

The bridal shop staff were already waiting at the entrance when we arrived. Seeing Dominic help me out of the car, they quickly approached, their voices laced with admiration.

"The gown was personally designed by Mr. Cruz. It's the most exquisite and luxurious piece in our collection. Embellished with 150 diamonds and 1,000 pearls, it symbolizes your everlasting love for each other."

But their happy chirps lasted barely three minutes. I saw that the place where my wedding dress was supposed to be displayed was empty. And there, Rosa was wearing my wedding dress.

"Ms. Kerr, you can't wear this." The shop manager carefully held up the hem of the gown. "This dress was custom-designed by Mr. Cruz for his wife."

Rosa's long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her smile was the perfect blend of guileless charm and feline cunning.

"I know, I know. But I just love this one," she said to the manager.

She was about to say more when she suddenly spotted Dominic and me standing not far away from her. Her expression shifted to one of surprise before settling into a smile. "Hello, Mr Cruz, Ms. Baird!"

She quickly approached me, reaching out to grab my hand. But then she paused when she noticed the lunchbox I was holding.

"Mr. Cruz, Ms. Baird, today marks the 1,000th day my boyfriend and I have been together. This wedding dress is absolutely gorgeous. It even has 1,000 pearls on it. Ms. Baird, you're not angry, are you? Sorry, I just couldn't resist trying it on."

Rosa flashed an apologetic smile at me.

Three months ago, on the very day I learned I had cancer, I received a WhatsApp message from Rosa for the first time.

It turned out they had already been together for 1,000 days—two years and nine months. And Dominic and I had only been married for three years. So, they’d been together for a long time.

No wonder the first thing Dominic did when he came home from work was shower and change his shirt. All those nights he claimed to be working late were spent in the arms of another.

I finally came to a decision after wavering for a while.

Well, there were only two days left anyway. Since Dominic liked to put on a show, I would just play along.

Dominic suddenly erupted in anger. "Take it off right now! You don't deserve a dress like this!"

The smile on Rosa's face instantly faded into a look of hurt. "Mr. Cruz, Ms. Baird isn't even angry—"

But Dominic only grew angrier. "Don't make me take it off for you!"

"Mr. Cruz, I'm sorry. I'll take it off right away." Her eyes welled up with tears, making her look pitiful indeed.

"That's not necessary. I don't want something that's already been tainted. Ms. Kerr, you can keep the dress if you like."

I randomly pointed to another dress, and the shop manager swiftly retrieved it for me. From start to finish, I didn't spare Rosa a glance. After all, if it weren't for Dominic, she wouldn't have dared to act so cocky in front of me.

"Wait here for me. I'll get your wedding dress off her," Dominic said to me.

With that, he forcefully grabbed Rosa's wrist and dragged her into the fitting room.

Everyone else fell silent and kept their heads down, afraid to get involved.

A long time passed, but he never returned.

My phone screen lit up with a new message.

"Come to the fitting room."

When I reached the fitting room door, I heard Dominic's low growl.

"You're not worthy of wearing the wedding dress I designed for Yvonne! You should know your place!"

"I only did it because I love you so much. My legs are still weak from last night. What should I do? My whole body is covered in your marks. Do you want to see them?" Rosa whimpered coquettishly.

Dominic's hoarse reply came through. "Don't covet what's not yours. My heart belongs only to Yvonne. As for the dress, you'll take it off in front of me. If you've damaged it, I'll make you pay with your body."

Then came the sound of fabric rustling and labored breathing.

"You even wore the bunny tail outside?"

Rosa giggled, her voice dripping with honeyed sweetness. "You don't like it?"

The only response was Dominic's increasingly ragged breathing.

In the end, Dominic returned with the wedding dress, his expression apologetic.

"Yvonne, there's still time. I'll design a new one for you."

"No, it's okay. I'll wear the one I tried on earlier."

The next day, as I followed the staff to the Gemini Towers, Dominic called me.

"Yvonne, I have another surprise for you today," he said mysteriously.

As the canvas in the center of the banquet hall was slowly unveiled, it revealed the last painting my parents had left behind before they passed away.

All the hotel staff around me started whispering amongst themselves.